This evening I would like to return to haibun with India's Pranav Kodial and, of course, Angelee Deodhar. The images with Pranav's haibun are by Angelee.

Has it been a while? It seems like a while!

Illusions

I stumble across my semi dark room, fumbling frantically for the light switch. I notice a rectangular shape on the wall and having switched it on, relax. They say events may trigger but don't actually cause depression. They say chemical imbalances in the brain may cause depression, maybe it's genetic, it’s because of lack of sunlight.

They say maybe—

closed door...

is there light

on the other side?

Masquerade

Ten. Hundred. Thousand. He moves through the sea of people, laughing, shaking hands, exchanging hugs and pleasantries. Finally he reaches the door. I watch him. And smile. Then I watch him. And cry. Once him. Once him…

from a mound of rice the black grain tumbles away

Bio : Dr. Pranav Kodial is an Indian ophthalmologist with a love for the Arts. In addition to haiku and other forms of poetry, he writes short stories and has recently completed a novel. He has also written and acted in plays, and sung in light classical music programs. He lives with his anesthesiologist wife and two children in Dahanu, Maharashtra.For those of us in the US, Thanksgiving is coming. Angelee Deodhar just sent me a haibun for that holiday.

Haibun: Reprieve

November
26th is a special day for two lucky turkeys who get to meet POTUS at
a special ceremony held at the Rose Garden of the White House where they are
“officially pardoned” and do not end up on the Thanksgiving table.

The
turkeys live a spoiled life style and are kept in a special pen. The radio is
played for them all day long. They listen to Vivaldi and John Mayer
intermittently. Once they arrive in Washington they are put up in the Willard
Hotel, and meet the press before being
taken to the White House.

Afterwards
they live the rest of their short lives at the historic Virginia residence,
Morven Park .

The official
"pardoning" of presidential turkeys probably started with President Lincoln's 1863 clemency to a
turkey ,when “a live turkey had been brought home for the Christmas dinner, but
Lincoln’s son ,Tad interceded in behalf of its life … and the turkey’s life was
spared.”